03/04/2025
Ayushman Vay Vandana: Free Healthcare for Senior Citizens Above 70
On the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and Ayurveda Day (October 29, 2024), Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement aimed at ensuring healthcare accessibility for India's elderly population. Under this initiative, all senior citizens aged 70 and above will receive free treatment in hospitals, regardless of their economic status.
To facilitate this, eligible individuals will be issued the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, allowing them to avail themselves of comprehensive healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Key Highlights of the Pradhan Mantri Varishta Health Insurance Policy
Objective:
The policy aims to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment for senior citizens by covering hospitalization expenses.
Eligibility Criteria:
Any Indian citizen aged 70 years or above is eligible.
Age verification will be based on the Aadhaar card.
There are no income-based restrictions; all senior citizens qualify.
If a family is already covered under PM-JAY, an additional ₹5 lakh coverage will be provided for members aged 70 and above, while the rest of the family continues to receive their existing coverage.
Enrollment Process:
The only document required for enrollment is the Aadhaar card.
Enrollment can be done at designated hospitals and Common Service Centers (CSCs)
Sum Insured:
₹5 lakh per family per year is allotted for senior citizens under the AB-PMJAY Senior Citizen Scheme.
Access to Healthcare Services:
Beneficiaries can avail cashless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across India.
Comprehensive Benefits:
Coverage includes secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
All pre-existing diseases are covered with no waiting period for any treatment.
The scheme covers hospitalization-related expenses, including: Doctor consultations and surgical procedures, Medications and diagnostic services,
